Amnesty International Steps Up Pressure On Hamas To Release Israeli Captives

The human rights organization Amnesty International has urged its supporters to pressure Hamas to release two Israelis that the Palestinian terror group is holding captive.

Hamas is currently holding Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu, 31, and Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed, 29. Mengistu crossed into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in September 2014 and al-Sayed crossed in April 2015. Hamas and Israel have reportedly held indirect talks to free the captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

“The two Israeli civilians suffer from serious mental health conditions. Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip have refused to disclose any information about them. Their fate and whereabouts remain unknown,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Amnesty urged its supporters to “write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language urging Hamas authorities to: ascertain and disclose the fate and whereabouts of Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed immediately; secure their safe release without delay; ensure their humane treatment and access to adequate medical care pending their release.”